So you are thinking about sharing sign language with your baby! Congratulations! You must be a smart mom.

Now, where to start? If you are like me, you have already gone online and bought three or four books detailing how to teach baby sign language, or you’ve driven all over the state looking for an expert teacher. Hopefully I’ve caught you before you’ve gone to all the trouble.

While seeking help from books and people is fine, it is also unnecessary, because everything you need to know about teaching baby sign language is right here. For free. And baby sign language is unbelievably simple.  And, contrary to common belief, you don’t need to be fluent in American Sign Language to teach your baby to sign.  You can learn one sign at a time, along with your baby.

So, to get started, take baby steps, pun intended.

If you are beginning with a young baby (you can start baby sign language as early as four months old), a great place to start is
Milk.  While a cry usually means hunger, wouldn’t it be great to give your baby milk before she thinks of crying?  Wouldn’t it be great if she knew of more than one way to ask for milk?  That could be one of the first decisions she makes!

The sign for milk is simple, and possible with a baby’s fine motor skills:  Holding your hand  perpendicular to the floor,  make a fist, then open it a little as if you are holding a bottle, then squeeze into a fist again.  Repeat opening and closing of your hand several times.  If you are familiar with American Sign Language, then it is helpful to know that the sign for “milk” is simply alternating between the sign for the letter “s” and the sign for the letter “c.”  (The sign for milk is supposed to be done with the right hand, so you can model it correctly, but I wouldn’t worry about which hand your baby uses.)

So, now you know how to sign for milk, but what about your baby?

Every time you say milk, or think milk, sign milk.  When you would normally ask your baby, “Are you hungry?” add in “Would you like some milk?” and make the sign for milk.  Before you nurse, tell your baby, “Here comes the milk!” and sign “milk.”  For many babies, it only takes a few days of this before they will start to make the sign when you do.  Then it is only a matter of time before they make the sign on their own.  And if it takes more than a few days, or several months even, don’t get frustrated.  Some babies are just stubborn and don’t see the need for signing.  Your little darling might just give you the look that means whatever mom in baby, but the time will come when he will want milk and he will want it NOW!  Then he’ll suddenly know the sign.

Seeing your baby sign for the first time will give you an overwhelming sense of joy and connection with your child.  It also feels like quite an accomplishment, and you will be ready to add in other basic signs like:  eat, more, finished, help, and down.

Getting started is definitely the hardest part, but it is certainly worth it.  Every second spent communicating with (or trying to communicate with) your baby is a second well spent.

We are here to answer all your  Baby Sign Language questions in one spot. You may be wondering where to begin and what 10 signs should you begin with. Visit the site to answer any questions you may be having.

Img Src: LuisVallecillo's on Flickr.com

I am an ardent believer in breastfeeding from the moment a baby is born until it feels natural to stop and your child can subsist on a diet of solid food. Of course, this is granted the mother is physically able to produce breast milk and that the baby is not in need of serious medical interventions, as when they are born so premature that they couldn’t get their tiny mouth over a nipple if they wanted to. Even if you find that you cannot produce breast milk, there are still options available in milk banks and wet nurses, which should be researched as a back-up plan long before a child is born.

The reasons to breastfeed are so numerous—both scientifically and anecdotal—that I feel I might talk for hours if anyone ever let me monologue about it, but here I will narrow the benefits down to five easily-digestible (pun intended) reasons why every mother should breastfeed their children proudly and confidently for as long as possible.

1.) Breast milk is formulated by nature specifically for a human baby. Similarly, cow’s milk is formulated for cows and goat’s milk is formulated for goats. It’s as simple as that. Man-made formulas don’t even come close, and while the science behind them is improving, the components of formula are still more difficult for an infant to digest than breast milk.

2.) Breastfeeding is good for the mother’s body and overall health. Not only do women who breastfeed have less of a risk of breast and ovarian cancer, but almost immediately after birth, breastfeeding stimulates the uterus to contract, helping you regain your pre-pregnant shape more quickly.

3.) It’s free. Let’s be practical here. Mother Nature blessed us with this liquid gold that flows abundantly from our breasts so we can effectively nourish our young, and we scorn it so we can pay a premium for formula? Give me a break. Aren’t all the other costs involved with caring for an infant enough without adding the needless cost of formula? (Which, by the way, is typically transported to grocery stores via semi trucks that emit huge amounts of CO2.)

4.) Breast milk passes on your body’s immunities. Breastfeeding kick-starts your baby’s immune system by passing vital antibodies through to him or her. This puts your child at less of a risk for diseases like bronchitis, staph infections, the flu and even ear infections. That beats a vaccine any day of the week!

5.) Breastfeeding is the ultimate bonding experience. From the get-go during breastfeeding your baby gets to know your smell, is comforted by your touch and listens to your heartbeat, which he or she was so familiar with in the womb. The process spells contentment for you and your little ones.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Jennifer Johnson, who writes on the topics of Nurse Practitioner School. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: j.johnson19june@gmail.com.

First time parents are in for the experience of a lifetime! After surviving 9 months of pregnancy, a wardrobe of maternity clothes, baby showers, and decorating the nursery with care, you have gone through the exciting, heroic experiences of labor and delivery. Now you are ready to begin your new life as first-time parents!

First-Time Parent Jitters
For many first-time parents, having a new baby in the home is an exciting experience mixed with apprehension. Silent questions such as “How will I know…” “How will I cope…” and “But, what if…” mingle with exuberant joy as you look down at the precious bundle sleeping in your arms. You’ve got the first-time parent jitters!

Not to worry! Siblings and friends with children, parents, and in-laws have been waiting for this moment, too. They will offer expert advice on feeding, diapering, and proper baby care. Books galore are also available, written by baby doctors and psychologists offering guidance on parenting, and the latest in child development research.

When it comes to reading material, be prudent about book selection. And, don’t be afraid to set down boundaries on visiting times for over-eager friends and relatives. While you can learn proper baby care from the expertise of others, you and your spouse also need time alone with your baby, to bond.

Bonding with Baby
Bonding with you baby will include kisses, touch, talking to and eye contact. Touch is crucial both for the babies proper development and because it is through touch your baby will come to know you.

Breastfeeding is the most basic form of bonding between baby and parent. For fathers, adoptive parents and those who are physically unable to breastfeed, there are plenty of opportunities to use touch to bond with your newborn. Cosleeping and babywearing allow both parents to bond with baby. You can find other opportunities to bond with you baby as well. Cradle your baby in your lap and gently stroke him or her. Nestling the newborn at your neck is another bonding-touch that provides baby with a sense of security. Support the baby’s head and neck with one hand, and his or her bottom with the other.

Forget the old wives’ tale that holding a baby too much will spoil the child. Some believe that a baby should not be picked up each and every time they cry as long as they have been adequately fed, are clean and dry, warm and comfortable, a baby does need to learn there are times when they should rest, or entertain themselves. Attachment parenting purists believe that it is not only OK to respond to all babies cries, but it actually gives your child a greater sense of security allowing them to become independent faster.

Quiet moments alone with baby without distractions are necessary to form the emotional connection between parent and child, essential to a healthy attachment. An important bonding process noted by pediatricians in the late 1970s. This process has been proved vital for both parent and child. Parents who form this type attachment with their newborn make better parents. They are better equipped and more willing to make the necessary sacrifices to care for their child; during infancy as well as through childhood.

Newborns provided the benefit of gentle contact and tender touch by parents feel loved and secure. This sense of well-being impacts both their emotional growth and physical development.

How to handle a newborn
The importance of touch – gentle, loving contact when holding your baby, cannot be emphasized enough. Rough handing and harsh jostling, especially with a newborn, can not only frighten your baby, but be life-threatening, as well.

Always be careful to support your newborn’s head and neck when you pick them up, or lay them down. If you need to wake up your newborn, don’t startle them by jostling or shaking them. Instead, gently tickle their feet, softly blow on their cheek, or tenderly rub the side of their head while speaking softly and saying their name.

Relish time with your baby. Gently cradle him or her in your arms, and tenderly rub his or her back using slow, wide circles. Caress your baby soothingly as you rock them.

Talk in a low, comforting tone, or quietly sing to them. Make sure to smile when you make eye contact with your baby, even if you aren’t sure whether or not their eyesight has developed enough yet to see clearly.

While it is true the importance of proper baby care (bathing, adequate nutrition, a safe, clean environment, play and nap time, and comfortable, warm clothing) cannot be over emphasized, neither can the healthy-bonding process between parent and child and the importance of touch. Both vital ingredients that say, “You are loved!”

Author: Lori S. Anton; Savvy Baby Gear editor
About the author: Lori Anton has been a published writer for 30 years. She is an editor for Savvy Baby Gear at Savvy Baby Gear.com, your one-stop shop for everything today’s parents of infants need: clothes, educational and fun toys and activities, care and safety products, clothing, nursery supplies, and educational aids for mom and dad…essentials for happy babies and parents.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/valentinap/129820098/

Search the net and you’re sure to find list upon list of what you need for a new baby. Most of those lists go way overboard. Babies don’t usually need much at all. Here’s a list of what I found, through my own experiences, to be the most useful.

Clothing
Plenty of t-shirts and sleepers – If you only want to do laundry every few days figure around 4 t-shirts, and 2 sleepers per day. This may be a bit more than necessary on most days, but there will always be the occasional day, or days, when baby is spitting up more than normal, or has messy blow-outs. You’ll appreciate the extra tees.

Diapers and Wipes
Disposables or Cloth – In today’s internet world, you will find diapers and wipes in variety of styles, patterns and personalities. The options are even wider for cloth than they are for disposables, can you imagine? There are some really ingenious designs that make diapering a baby’s tush almost seem exciting! And the following within the cloth diaper community feels the same way. However, beware, you may end up needing to one day admit “My name is ___. And I’m a cloth diaper addict.”

Can’t talk yourself into cloth? No worries, the disposable diapers have come along way and while they aren’t soft natural cotton and wool, they do keep your baby dry and don’t leak. How much of each? Only keep a couple jumbo packs of disposables on hand at a time. Babies grow so fast you aren’t always able to gauge how soon they’ll be into the next size. Planning on using cloth? A dozen or two dozen would probably be a good start. What I’ve seen is that cloth diapers are an addictive thing and you may end up with wonderful cloth diapers coming out your ears! Wipes? I always buy by the package and sometimes by the box. Making your own? A yard of flannel or fleece would probably yield a good start.

Blankets
Receiving blankets; those itty bitty blankets you wrap a newborn in, but after the first month aren’t good for much baby wrapping. But if you, like most women, end up with a few dozen of them, they make great lap pads, burp pads, and for mom, use them to wrap your hair when you get out of the shower – they are light-weight so they don’t fall over when you are tending to baby, or use them as a nursing pad when you are bra-less. They work just fine. They may also be used when baby is going bare – to catch any accidents. On the other hand, a couple of really nice, kid-sized blankets are must have!

Sling or Carrier
The online mothering community has been inundated with every type of baby sling and carrier you could imagine, and then some; padded to unpadded slings, pouches, wraps and carriers. These, like cloth diapers, may lead to addiction, tread with caution! But a good carrier is a must have. You even see mothers in the public eye touting their babes in slings nowadays. It’s no longer alternative, having paved a path into mainstream.

Structured carriers are great too. Do some research and where possible, give one a test run. Some communities offer baby wearing classes and have slings you can test. Some online shops will even send you a used sling to try, reserving cost on your credit card – then applied back when you return the carrier.

Sleeping Area
Co-sleeping has become more commonplace practice, but it isn’t always for everyone. Not to mention, some moms, even the attachment parenting mom would like a place to lay baby. Some ideas include a bassinet or cradle, a travel crib, a Moses basket, or many others. This is something you may need to experiment with to find the best fit for you and the baby. Different stages of babyhood may require some changes.

Pad an out of the walk-way area of the floor with a couple receiving blankets and make a little nest for baby to lay. No extra expense.

Required:Car Seat
Unless you live in a walking/biking community, chances are you’ll need a car seat. For safety’s sake, do your research on this one. An infant seat is nice when you can take it in and out of the car easily while baby sleeps, but any secure, up-to-date infant approved car seat is great, necessary! Also, take note that not all car seats fit all cars.

Optional: Stroller
Most mothers who “wear” their babies say you don’t need a stroller. Strollers don’t have to receive use directly from the baby to be useful. It comes in handy to carry coats and jackets, drinks, purse or diaper bag, extra diapers, change of clothes, not to mention any purchased items on your outing. As an added benefit, it leaves mom pretty hands free – you get really good at pushing a stroller with one hand! If you opt for a stroller, choose one that has drink carriers.

Bouncy Seat
A bouncy seat comes in handy so often, that while I’d classify it as “optional”, for myself, it was necessary. I loved our bouncy seat as much as baby enjoyed it. I carried it everywhere with me, to the bathroom for instance. It was a great baby holder while I took care of bathroom duties, did the dishes and cooked dinner. Baby and I would sing, talk and play while I got chores done.

Diaper Bag
Any bag with a couple pockets works well. The younger the baby, the bigger the bag needed. As baby grows and has less accidents (i.e. spit up, bottom blow-outs), you’ll get more efficient at packing just what you may need. Don’t go overboard on a diaper bag with all the frills. A nice canvas bag, decorated by you and siblings, will work as a great bag for outings. Toss in a couple gallon-sized baggies for messes, a couple of receiving blankets for padding and you’re good to go!

Author: Judi Cox
About the author: Judi Cox is a work at home mom living in the Ohio Valley with her husband and 4 children. Judi’s current online interests include working on two of her websites
http://www.momslittlegarden.com and http://www.mommamuse.com.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/indabelle/2384154480/

One of the most commonly used parenting techniques in current day used throughout schools, homes, and day cares is “time-out”. “Timeout” is based primarily on a way of thinking that implies children act out for attention. Therefore, if a child is acting out ‘for’ attention, you don’t want to reward the child but rather give the child ‘time-out’ to think about their negative behaviors, thereby making better decisions next time. Considering that educators and professionals are still teaching and writing about this technique as though it were a ‘new’ alternative behavior discipline method, let’s ask the question: What makes “time-out” any different than standing with your nose in the corner, sitting on the dunce chair, being sent to your room, or having to sit in the naughty chair? Can someone please tell me the difference?

Bishop T.D. Jakes says, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always be where you’ve already been!” If the dunce chair or standing with your nose in the corner didn’t work when we were children, then why do we think by dressing it up as something seemingly more contemporary, that it is going to work now? Many of you may be saying, “But it does work. All I have to do is start counting to three and my child stops their behavior to avoid time out,” or maybe you’re saying, “If it’s good enough for Super Nanny, it’s good enough for me.” Have you seen the new King Kong flick? Well, to a two-year old, an adult looks something like Kong did to the blonde, an utter giant. Wouldn’t you sit in a chair for two or three minutes if King Kong told you to do so? Wouldn’t you stop your behavior if you knew that if you continued, you would lose the loving support of your most secure attachment figure? Help me understand how it makes sense to send a child whose behavior is clearly communicating that they are unable to manage their current emotional state, to go sit by themselves to sort through their upset emotions, alone “Time-out” does not recognize the developmental and regulatory struggles a child is demonstrating in the midst of their behavior of acting out. Consider for a moment that rather than a child acting out ‘for’ attention, he is in fact, acting out because he ‘needs’ attention. Read that sentence again. It can make all of the difference. Instead of sending the child off to sit in a chair or be isolated, bring the child into you for a period of time. Have him sit next to you, hold your hand, stand beside you. Say to the child, “When you are feeling better you may go back and play.” In other words, allow the child to determine how much time-in that he needs. Important point: It is not imperative that you touch the child during this time. A child that does not want to be touched, or reacts violently, should not be touched. In that moment, the child is in survival mode and feels very threatened. Keep your distance, but indicate to the child that you are nearby and will stay so, until the child feels safer.

“Time-in” can be a very effective alternative to “time-out”. “Time-in” teaches compassion, regulation, the ability to create internal calm in the midst of stress, and understanding. Before providing “Time-In” for your child, give some to yourself. Take a moment, find a quiet corner, take four deep breaths, and find your calm, peaceful self. Now you are ready to help calm your child.

Author: B. Bryan Post, PhD, LCSW
Copyright© 2006 Dr. Bryan Post. All rights reserved. About the author: To learn more about “time-in” and calming your child when in a state of stress, visit Postfamilysystem.com and parentingtheadoptedchild.com . B. Bryan Post PhD, LCSW, is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of children and families struggling with issues related to trauma.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/dcassaa/966691203/

That said, the G-diaper is a superb alternative to disposables and this video shows why. The waste goes down the toilet where it belongs. You can even compost the inserts that only contain urine. It is really a great alternative and the best of three worlds (EC, cloth and disposable. You can learn more or purchase the G-diapers at Gaiam.com

According to those who use the technique, Elimination Communication is the practice of being responsive to a child’s need to eliminate wastes, and giving him the means to express this need clearly to his caregiver, regardless of his age. It also includes some training, called “cueing” through which the child associates a sound, place, object or position with the act of relieving himself.

Elimination Communication is often called other names besides the acronym “EC,” which was coined by author Ingrid Bauer, such as Infant Potty Training (IPT) and Natural Infant Hygiene (NIH). The term getting the most press, and causing some confusion among those not yet familiar with the idea, is IPT. The label IPT seems to be unpopular with ECers on the grounds that “Potty Training” brings to mind methods harsh and inappropriate for infants, which, they assert, EC is not. For a more thorough explanation, click over to Wikipedia’s article on the subject.

While it may be difficult to believe that it is possible to practice EC from the time of birth, according to Laurie Boucke, the author of two books on Infant Pottying and the most oft-quoted author on the topic, the best time to start is before the beginning of the sixth month. If we can take increasing traffic on EC-related Internet forums as evidence, more and more parents are choosing to do it to some degree or another. Some personal experiences written by parents and other caregivers who’ve practiced EC are available here.

There have been articles about EC in the NY Times and other city newspapers, in addition to alternative online magazines for additional perspective on this new trend. There are books and articles for those who are simply curious, and others for more instructional purposes. From these sources and input from caregivers on various EC message boards, a brief guide has been compiled.

To learn more, get answers to frequently asked questions and read about some families’ personal experiences with EC, visit http://www.ec-information.com and http://www.ec-information.co

Author: Adrienne Makita
About the author: Adrienne is the owner and operator of MountaintopPublications

Image Source: Daily dirty diapers >= size of baby

Child obesity levels are on the increase in America and many other countries around the world. As well as having social and psychological consequences, children that are overweight often develop potentially dangerous health problems that can affect them for the rest of their lives.

This article discusses the reason for the rise in childhood obesity and its consequences, offers some eating and exercise tips to help children lose weight, and finally discusses what we as parents can do to help our kids.

What constitutes being overweight for children?
A child with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex is considered overweight. BMI uses height and weight measurements to estimate how much body fat a person has, and parents who suspect that their child may be overweight can check with their family doctor or pediatrician who can calculate their child’s BMI using a special BMI calculator designed for children.

Why childhood obesity is increasing
Put simply, the major cause of childhood obesity is our modern lifestyle. Children today eat more and exercise less than any other generation before them and the result is that children are getting heavier and unhealthier. The characteristics of our modern lifestyle that contributes most to the problem of childhood obesity include:

• Advances in technology designed to make life easier and more entertaining.
• Unprecedented access to cheap, high-calorie, high-fat food (i.e. junk and fast food).
• Modern leisure activities such as playing computer games and watching TV.
• Exposure to increasing amounts of marketing for fast and snack foods.
• High density living with fewer parks and play areas for kids.
• Poor lifestyle habits being passed on from one generation to the next.

Let’s have a look at some of the things that can be done if your children are overweight or obese.

Eating Tips to Prevent Obesity in Children
Children who are brought up on constant diets of snack and junk food will grow into adults with ingrained bad eating habits and are destined to suffer from weight problems, even if they
somehow manage to avoid doing so as children.

To help you get your children eating as healthy as possible, here are some common and practical eating tips that anyone can implement:

• Be a role model and set a good example for your children by eating healthier yourself.
• Use your authority to control what food is purchased and cooked in the home.
• Do not put your child on a restrictive diet without expert medical advice.
• Encourage your children to lead healthy lives and don’t just focus on weight loss.
• Encourage your kids to eat healthy food by making sure it is tasty, well prepared, and easily available at home.
• Don’t bring “problem” foods home, like chocolate, potato chips, ice cream, candy, cakes and fizzy drinks.
• Prepare meals with your children – kids often enjoy cooking and as well as having fun, they can learn about healthy cooking and food preparation.
• Don’t force children to finish their food if they are full, they’ll eat more than they need to
  and will adopt the ‘clean plate’ eating philosophy for life.
• Be aware of “emotional overeating” and try to address the cause of any stress and tension in your child’s life.
• Don’t use food as a bribe or reward.

If you need more tips or you’re still not sure what and how much to feed your children to ensure that they develop good eating habits and grow up as healthy and happy as possible, seek professional advice from a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Exercise tips to prevent or reverse childhood obesity
As well as doing whatever we can to make sure our children are eating healthy foods, it’s just as important to also make sure they are getting enough exercise and developing a love of being
active.

If you want to help your child avoid becoming overweight, or if you already have a child who is overweight, the following tips may be useful:

• Make exercise as fun as possible and don’t call the activities your children engage in “exercise” which has the wrong connotations for children.
• Try to help your child get at least thirty to sixty minutes of “exercise” broken downinto ten or fifteen minute segments.
• Be a role model by being active yourself and engage your children in activities like walking, hiking, tennis, swimming, basketball, or bike riding.
• Make fitness a family affair.
• Let children set the pace and intervals of family walks, bike rides, etc.
• Encourage your children to play sports without being pushy.

How parents can help their kids
Although it’s easy to blame the growth of childhood obesity on our modern lifestyle, many parents of overweight children need to recognize the significant role they’ve played in making their children that way if things are going to change.

Remember, most children with poor exercise and eating habits have learned those habits from their parents. Here are five of the most important things a parent can do to help their children avoid or reverse childhood obesity:

• Be a role model – eat healthy food and be active yourself and your children are likely to follow your lead.
• Help your kids to develop basic fitness skills by helping them to enjoy swimming, walking, cycling, running, dancing, hiking, skating, etc.
• Fill your cupboard and fridge with healthy foods and drink and limit the amount of snack and junk foods your children eat.
• Spend quality time with your children and have fun with them away from the TV and computer.
• Make small changes first and build on them over time – radical change is unlikely to be accepted and adopted long-term so take small but progressive steps forward.

Author: Scott Haywood
About the author: Scott Haywood is the editor of Australia’s leading weightloss and healthy lifestyle website.
Weightloss.com.au is a free weight loss resource that has healthy recipes, weight loss product reviews, a weight loss business directory and a very popular weight loss forum

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/jamesyu/61784470/

Are you currently pregnant and discouraged about getting back into shape after having your baby? Or maybe you’re a new Mom who is exhausted and getting to the gym is the last thing on your mind! Either way, I hope the following tips help you lose that baby weight.

I don’t have any fancy initials behind my name, I’m just a Mom of 4 kids. I’ve been able to get into my favorite Gap jeans fairly quickly after my babies, and I’ve observed that women who do the same have a few things in common. Here are my tips for losing the weight postpartum:

1) Don’t use pregnancy as an excuse to binge.
Pregnancy is the time to get strict about nutrition. Eating junk food will produce a small baby and a big Momma. Make your pregnancy a time to turn over a new leaf if you are a junk food junkie. You’ll be developing habits that will serve you well as you teach your children about nutrition.

At the same time, don’t obsess about weight gain. I gained between 35-50 pounds for each of my pregnancies, and still didn’t have trouble getting back into my old clothes within a few months postpartum. Focus on good nutrition, stay as active as you can, and you won’t go wrong.

2) Breastfeed your baby.
Breastfeeding burns around 500-700 calories a day. Wow- that’s not bad for sitting around relaxing on the couch! Your body puts on 9 pounds during your pregnancy specifically for the purpose of lactation. The extra weight is laid down on your thighs to make sure you will have enough fat to burn to make milk for baby. Call it “famine insurance” if you will. If you don’t breastfeed, guess what? That 9 pounds stays.

Several studies show that nursing Moms return to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly. Nursing also helps your uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy size faster. Plus you’ll have a nicer décolletage to boot!

3) Talk a walk every day
Walking is probably the perfect exercise for new Moms. It’s not stressful on your joints (which are still loosey-goosey from the pregnancy hormones for a while after you give birth). It’s free and doesn’t require a babysitter or any special equipment. It gets you out in the sun, which helps regulates your sleep/wake cycle, causing you and baby to sleep better at night and possibly helping prevent postpartum depression. And you can do it with a friend. If you’re sleep deprived and can’t bear the thoughts of exercise, call up a buddy and make a date with her to walk several mornings a week. Then you can treat yourselves to Starbucks and gossip afterwards.

4) “Wear” your baby
In addition to the many other benefits, using a baby sling or other soft cloth carrier and wearing your baby will burn lots of calories during the day as you do your household chores or care for other children. It also makes it easier for you to be active. You’ll be less tempted to sit around. Throwing on a sling and sitting baby inside it is much easier than lugging out and setting up a heavy stroller.

5) Curb those cravings
Postpartum Moms have cravings for several reasons. One is because serotonin levels are dropping, leading to cravings for sugar. Substitute snacking with another, health producing activity, like getting together with your buddy and going for a walk.

Another cause of cravings may be low blood sugar due to inadequate nutrition (eating too infrequently or eating too much refined sugar). Keep your blood sugar in control by eating frequent small meals that are balanced in nutrients. Keep snacks handy that you can grab quickly before you feed the baby. You need fats, protein and complex carbohydrates. Things like dried fruit and nuts, granola, full fat yogurt (buy the plain kind and mix in all-fruit jelly. Most yogurt has way too much sugar otherwise), kefir, vegetables sliced ahead of time and served with dips, hummus, whole grain pita bread, fruit smoothies, etc will keep your blood sugar constant and provide good nutrition. And keep taking your prenatal multivitamin to help prevent deficiencies that may cause cravings.

6) Avoid excessive caffeine

Drinking too much caffeine leads to insulin surges which cause your blood sugar to drop. When this happens most people head straight for the refined carbs to quicky bring their blood sugar back up. That’s no good.

7) Get enough rest

Easier said than done for a new Mom, to be sure! But if at all possible, nap with your baby. When you are terribly sleep deprived, you tend to gain weight. Consider bringing baby to bed with you if you are nursing. You will sleep better, baby will sleep better, and Daddy will sleep better (making it more likely that he will take baby for a walk and let you nap some afternoons!). Women all over the world have been doing it for thousands of years. As long as you are not morbidly obese, using sleeping pills or inebriated, cosleeping is safe.
Focus on good nutrition

This is also a challenge for a new, stressed out Mom. Check out books like “The One Armed Cook” for ideas on how to prepare healthy meals with a baby in arms. Visit a La Leche League meeting and ask other Moms how they manage to eat well with kids in the kitchen. Some Moms who were former junk food junkies have done well with the following technique. Before feeding themselves a particular food, they ask: “Would I feed this to my baby?” If the answer is no, they don’t eat it.

9) And lastly, give it time

Be realistic- don’t expect yourself to be back into your favorite jeans within a few weeks of delivery. In the meantime, appreciate your new, womanly curves (especially the cleavage that breastfeeding gives you!). I noticed that my clothing style changes somewhat after I have a baby. My normal tailored, classic look gives way to a soft, feminine style that flatters my postpartum body more.

Rejoice in your body that can do such awesome things as give birth and nourish a new life! Likely, your partner is much more forgiving of your changing body than you are. Just the other day as I was feeling embarrassed about my still stretched-out postpartum belly, my husband commented on how sexy my belly was, “because that’s where my babies grew”.

Enjoy your new baby!

Author: Carrie Lauth
For more articles for Moms who want to take care of their health naturally, visit http://www.NaturalMomsHealth.com/. For free whole food recipes each month, sign up for the newsletter at http://www.NaturalMomsRecipes.com

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Despite a commonly held belief that taking your children out of school and teaching them at home is likely to run you into trouble with the law, homeschooling is in fact completely legal. There are however laws governing homeschooling and you need to familiarize yourself with these before you start.

The Constitution does not cover education and, while the Department of Education plays a large role in defining the rules governing the provision of education services, the laws covering schooling are established by each individual state and vary considerably from one state to the next.

When it comes to homeschooling, although it is legal in all 50 states, some states adopt a fairly relaxed attitude while others have very restrictive rules. For example, Idaho and Texas place very few restrictions on parents while Massachusetts and New York adopt a very heavy handed approach and require such things as state approval for a student’s curriculum and submission of student achievement test scores. They may even carry out periodic home visits. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, require parents to submit teaching materials used for homeschooling to the local school district for approval.

Over the years there have been many attempts to stop the practice of homeschooling and many parents worry that, even if it is legal today, there is a chance that it will be outlawed in the not too distant future. This is however extremely unlikely and for many years now the courts have consistently ruled in favor of homeschooling. Indeed, in one quite recent case which was taken to the Supreme Court for a ruling the Court reaffirmed the fundamental rights of parents and confirmed the view first expressed by the Supreme Court as far back as 1925 that education is the responsibility of the parents and not of the state.

For parents who are concerned about the legal aspects of homeschooling (or who get themselves into a legal dispute with state authorities) the Home School Legal Defense Association was founded in 1983 and is not only the fount of knowledge on all matters pertaining to the legality of homeschooling, but has also fought many battles on behalf of homeschooling parents.

If you are considering homeschooling then you should certainly not be put off by concerns about your legal position but you must know that there are laws which govern what you can and cannot do and you should acquaint yourself with these.

by Donald Saunders
Parenting4Dummies.com provides information, advice and articles on all aspects of parenting including parenting teenagers and many parents consider it their best homeschooling resource.

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